Lately, as I have been making more new friends here at college more and more people are asking me about the scar on my neck. Most of these people have the same reactions; "Wow, that really happened to you"? And all I have to say to that is, yes it did.
But I have no problem telling them about what happened to me and here is why, because two years after being hospitalized I am healthy and living my life in a way the doctors never predicted.
1. I Am Proud
I am so proud to tell my story of that time I had Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Even though some people do not get to have as big of a miracle story as I do, I want to share my story with others because I hope that it inspires them. I hope it shows others that you can determine your outcome based on your attitude. I have gained so many one of a kind experiences from this illness and they are experiences and memories that I would not trade for anything.
2. Time To Shake It Off
It has been a little over two years since I was hospitalized and then came home 46 days later. Although that is not very long ago, it has still been long enough that I am not going to dwell over how bad it was. Yes, what happened to me was terrible, and the experience is something I would never wish on my worst enemy, but it is time for me to look at the good things that came from that time in my life. I met the most amazing people while in the hospital (one of those patients is now my college roommate), not just the other patients but the staff that took care of me. I am so thankful that I am here today to tell my story, and that is something that I do not believe is bad at all. So there comes a time when no matter what it is that happened, look at the other side and see the good things that came from the experience.
So if anyone ever asks if that really happened to you, tell them that yes it did. Because look at you now, you're there in front of them, aren't you? You are thriving in your life, and you are able to show them how strong you are and in my book that is the biggest blessing in disguise. My mom used to tell me "You were already strong before this happened you just didn't realize it yet". She was exactly true, because although I was strong when it happened, going through something life changing makes you even stronger. Just remember to always be proud of the things you have gone through and that eventually it is time to shake it off and focus on the better things that came out of the experience. And if anything else, THE STORM ALWAYS PASSES. Things will get better, they might suck at the moment you are reading this but I promise you that you will look back on the experience and feel differently.
